SEX AND AGE CORRELATED REFERENCE VALUES OF SERUM THYROGLOBULIN MEASURED BY A MODIFIED RADIOIMMUNOASSAY

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Abstract
Variations in serum thyroglobulin [Tg] in relation to sex and age in a group of normal persons were described. The method used was a modified double antibody radioimmunoassay characterized by pre-incubation at 37.degree. C of standard or sample with antiserum, resulting in a reduced total incubation time. Sensitivity and precision were comparable to other published methods. Of the 152 blood-donors initially investigated, 7 were excluded due to the presence of antithyroglobulin antibodies as evidenced by a radioassay. Both sexes were equally represented with an even distribution of ages from 20-65 yr. Increased serum Tg with increasing age was demonstrated, the correlation being significant in women (Kendall''s .tau., P < 0.001). Detectable concentrations of serum Tg (above 1.7 .mu.g/l) were found in 94%. Based on the logarithmic transformation, the upper reference limits were determined for men .ltoreq. 40 yr: 36 .mu.g/l, > 40 yr: 44 .mu.g/l (difference between groups not significant, P > 0.05), and for women .ltoreq. 40 yr: 30 .mu.g/l, > 40 yr: 60 .mu.g/l (significant difference, P < 0.005).